Box Score

SUNY Oneonta junior Samantha Smith (Webster/Webster Thomas) netted a pair of goals today to lead the field hockey team to a 4-3 win against #13 William Smith College on the road.  The win for the Red Dragons was its first against the Herons since 2003, when the Red Dragons defeated them in an ECAC Tournament game and kept them perfect in the early season at 3-0.

“William Smith is always a challenge for us,” said head coach Kelly Kingsbury.  “We were able to execute on our penalty corners and maintain possession.  I am proud of this team.  They played hard and earned this win.”

Oneonta was able to capitalize on three of its seven penalty corners in the game today for a nearly 50 percent conversion rate.  Oneonta's first goal of the game was on a corner and came eight minutes into the match, with Smith tapping the ball in from the right post off a cross from classmate Ashley Morgan (Putnam Valley/Putnam Valley). Oneonta's second goal came seven minutes later when senior Ashley Johnson (Saratoga Springs/Saratoga Springs) taking on senior goalkeeper Taryn Little in front of the net, putting the ball in unassisted. The third goal of the game came from Smith on the right post again, this time coming off a cross from junior Stephanie Fiske (Marathon/Marathon).

William Smith (1-1) got one back with senior Annie Kietzman's first goal. With two minutes left in the opening half, Kietzman took the ball from midfield through the defense and into the circle, blasting a shot into the cage.

Fiske converted on another corner early in the second half to give the Red Dragons its three-goal cushion back.

The Herons dominated the rest of the game with two unanswered goals and a close fight until the end. In the 41st minute, junior Amy David blasted in a shot off a penalty corner with Kietzman earning the assist. With 19 minutes left in the game, Kietzman drove a shot toward the cage that junior Taylor Cappello deflected in to cut the Red Dragons' lead to one.

The Herons (1-1) put three shots on frame down the stretch, but could not find the equalizer.

Sophomore goalie Catherine Hare made five saves, playing 48:50 in relief of Little (2 GA). For Oneonta, Tess Tracy (Liverpool/Liverpool) stopped two of the five shots she face in the opening 50:11, while Krista Servedio (Shrub Oak/Lakeland) stopped three shots to preserve the win.

The Red Dragons travel to University of Rochester tomorrow at noon.